For Lin Yi, Denver wasn't unfamiliar territory. After all, this was in the same state where the infamous Eagle County incident had happened in his past life.
The Knicks had no shortage of nightlife lovers. Gallinari, for instance, was a lover boy. With that pretty face of his, it wasn't a surprise.
But Lin Yi? He preferred a quieter life. Nightclubs were too loud and messy. He'd rather be curled up with a good novel or listening to some music.
Maybe the game against the Lakers had zapped everyone's energy. Whatever the reason, when the team landed in Denver, nobody even thought about going out. They just crashed at the hotel.
"Lin," Gallinari barged into Lin Yi's room mid-2K game. "If someone eats beef every day, and suddenly one day you give him just vegetables... what do you think he'd do?"
Lin Yi didn't take his eyes off the screen. "Probably think it's a nice change. Too much meat gets boring, y'know?"
Gallo stared up at the ceiling in silence, as if giving the gospel. "Lin... you're something."
Lin Yi was confused by the comment before everything clicked, and he started popping his knuckles. "Danilo, are you asking to get beat?"
After giving Gallo a playful whooping, Lin Yi realized something. Guys from New York, used to the non-stop buzz of a massive city, weren't easily impressed by anything else, especially not out-of-town girls.
...
November 26th was Lin Yi's birthday. He never really made a big deal out of it. Last year, he and Steph Curry just split a cake in their dorm at Davidson, stayed up playing 2K. That was their idea of a celebration.
Crazy how much things change in a year. In 2K10, you could now control Lin Yi in the game. Talk about surreal.
A lot of fans were furious, though. "Why can't I pull off Lin's crossover in-game?" they complained. Some even demanded refunds.
2K's response? "Hey, we tried. Rookies aren't supposed to break the game."
Still, Lin Yi had a 79 overall—the highest among all 2009 rookies. Even 2K developers were at a loss. His in-game model already felt broken. They'd spent years toning down Yao Ming's dominance... now came this unpredictable hybrid.
Lin Yi couldn't help laughing. It reminded him of when Curry dropped 402 threes in 2016 and fans asked why he was still inaccurate in the game. Ah, memories.
...
Though Lin Yi didn't plan anything for his birthday, the Knicks surprised him with a cake at practice that afternoon.
His teammates gifted him small things, except Milicic, who went above and beyond. He'd cut out every newspaper article he could find about Lin Yi and turned them into a silhouette collage.
Maybe it brought back memories of his youth, seeing a young star rewriting history right in front of him.
Thanks to Lin Yi's influence—and a suspension to a few other players—Milicic never got shipped to Minnesota. Now he was averaging 5 points and 5 rebounds off the bench. Not flashy, but reliable. He wasn't exactly chatty, but Lin always made a point to include him, which meant something.
Curry, Harden, Griffin, DeRozan, and even Flynn—all Lin Yi's fellow 2009 rookies—sent birthday wishes. CCTV did a feature on him too.
And then there was Elizabeth Olsen. She called right at midnight. That simple happy birthday warmed Lin Yi up. He would have talked with her if it weren't so late and had a game tomorrow.
...
With his birthday behind him, it was back to business. The Knicks had just brought in three new players.
Marco Belinelli, traded from Toronto, had mixed feelings about leaving. But once his agent said, "You're going to New York," Marco packed up faster than you could say ciao.
New York was the dream. And hey, Coach D'Antoni was Italian. That had to count for something.
He'd watched Gallinari flourish this season and figured, If Danilo can do it, maybe I can too.
Marco didn't think he was more talented than Gallo, but when it came to shooting? He had something to prove.
"Hey, Lin." Belinelli greeted everyone politely, but when it came to Lin Yi, he was extra cautious. Every team had its hierarchy, and Lin Yi? He was the guy in New York.
Danny Green was the opposite—quiet and hesitant. He hung near the edges, unsure of his place.
Lin Yi remembered him from the NCAA. And he knew Danny would grow into one of the league's best 3&D players—great defense, solid shooting, no ego.
But right now? Green was struggling. His Cleveland stint had been rough. He barely cracked the rotation. Getting traded to New York, he feared the worst.
He wasn't wrong—NBA teams didn't have room for jack of all trades, master of none types. Lin Yi knew Green had to specialize. That's why he'd told Yi Jianlian to shift focus, too.
Green's defense was okay. His shooting? Only reliable from the right wing. But Coach D'Antoni had coached Raja Bell back in Phoenix, and he saw potential in Danny.
"Danny," he said after practice, "we don't need more ball handlers. You've got great lateral quickness—lock in on defense. And those corner threes? Nail 'em. You should be able to hit from anywhere, not just that right wing."
"I'll give you some minutes, but you've gotta earn the rest."
Green was touched. In Cleveland, Mike Brown barely spoke to him.
And Lin Yi? Although they were opponents in the NCAA, he was just easy to talk to—same age, similar experiences. The Knicks had a good thing going.
...
Then there was Lou Williams.
When he found out the Sixers traded him, Lou was devastated. But the second he heard "New York," he saw this as a chance to prove himself.
Still, he kept a low profile at first. Rumors said Lin Yi was a ruthless leader.
But the Knicks' vibe? Way more chill than he expected.
"Louis," D'Antoni said, "you've got starter skills. But Lin suggested you come off the bench as our sixth man. He wants you to lead the second unit."
Lou blinked.
Lin Yi stepped in. "I know it might feel like a demotion. But trust me, you're our spark plug. I'll set the picks, you make the plays. Feel good? Launch that three."
"You've got a real shot at Sixth Man of the Year, Lou."
Lou was speechless.
Within one session, he fit right in like he'd been a Knick for years.
...
During the scrimmage, D'Antoni pulled Belinelli aside.
"Two threes a game? That's it? No way. If you're not taking five, you're running laps with Danilo."
Belinelli was shook. Back in Toronto, if he even looked at the rim without being wide open, he got benched.
Now the coach was begging him to shoot more?
He let it fly. Swish. Swish. D'Antoni still wasn't impressed.
"You're that accurate? Take ten. Gotta sharpen the shooting."
Belinelli nearly cried again. Heaven. This is basketball heaven.
Even Danny Green got a wake-up call.
"Why didn't you shoot that?" David Lee asked during the scrimmage. "I boxed out for you."
"There was a defender in front of me," Green mumbled.
Lee shrugged. "So what? You gotta shoot it, man. Look at Lou. He's already cooking."
Green looked over and saw Lou dropping buckets. Maybe… just maybe… he'd finally found the right fit.
...
At the end of the scrimmage, Coach D'Antoni called everyone in and laid out the game plan like a seasoned general with a dry-erase board.
"Alright, here's how we play," he began. "First option? Transition offense. Run the break, hit them before they set up. Defense? We play pseudo-zone—cut off drives, help when needed, and always be ready to switch. And when they miss? Don't wait. Grab that rebound and go."
Simple. Fast. Clean. No unnecessary fluff.
"If they manage to get back in time," he added, "we go straight into pick-and-roll. Keep it basic. Let Lin find the mismatch."
The bench unit had an even simpler job: push the tempo, run the floor, and let Lin Yi be the hub. If nothing was there, swing the ball for an open three.
D'Antoni grinned. "This is how we roll."
When it came to more complex plays, D'Antoni wasn't about to overload the squad with a whole playbook. But for someone like Belinelli? That was different. The coach had cooked up something special.
Lin Yi recognized it immediately. He'd used the same play in 2K.
"Coach, is that Quick 23 HOS Opt?"
"Ha! So you do play too many video games," D'Antoni chuckled. "Yup, that's the one. Double screen action for a shooter like Marco."
In 2K-speak, it was a play designed to free up a shooter. First, the shooter jogs along the baseline. Then, as defenders try to chase, two teammates flare across the free-throw line like chess pieces moving to the wings. The shooter, now wide open, sprints out to the 45-degree mark beyond the arc, catches, and lets it fly.
The screens could come from a big or another guard—there were at least 21 variations. It was a beautifully simple way to get a sniper clean looks.
And Belinelli? The man was over the moon.
Back in Toronto, if he so much as thought about shooting without being wide open, he was benched.
Now? D'Antoni was begging him to let it fly.
Lou Williams was also feeling good. Lin's screens were strong and well-timed. Whether he was curling around for a pull-up or dishing it out, Lou was thriving.
Lin Yi grinned, watching Lou work. He remembered how in the future, Lou would explode with the Clippers because DeAndre Jordan was setting monster picks for him. Simple pick-and-rolls. Not too fancy. Just clear reads and rhythm.
Lou was never a traditional floor general, but with Lin? He didn't have to be. Run the play, read the defense, make the pass, or get your bucket.
Green, meanwhile, watched all this and couldn't help feeling good.
The NBA line was deeper than the NCAA's, sure. But Green had good mechanics, soft touch. All he needed was time.
After practice, Lin clapped him on the shoulder.
"Danny," he said, "don't sweat the superstar stuff. UNC gave us Jordan and Vince, sure. But look at Raymond Felton—dude's out here playing a solid role. You think you're too good for that?"
Danny blinked, then cracked a smile. "No, man… guess not."
Lin grinned. "Good. Belinelli's not untouchable. You grind, you shoot, you defend, do all that well, and you will be solid."
And with that, something clicked for Green.
He didn't need to be a superstar. He just needed to be better. And that? That he could do.
Lin, watching Green's posture straighten and his eyes sharpen, nodded to himself.
This is how you build a team—one hungry guy at a time.
...
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